Nazi fantasist joined Hitler groups and had bomb guides

A NAZI fantasist locked up for child sex crimes is facing further jail time after admitting at Greenock Sheriff Court to a series of terrorism-related offences including possessing guides on how to make explosives.

Axl Scott – described by his own defence advocate as ‘a very odd young man’ – was found with a blank firing pistol, a stun gun and smoke grenades in his home.

Scott also had photo and video instructions for the production of thermite, napalm, Molotov cocktails and RDX – a key chemical component of C-4.

The court heard how the 22-year-old joined several far-right extremist chat groups online, named after racist and anti-Semitic leaders and ideologies.

He sent pictures of himself wearing a swastika armband and making a Hitler salute – despite having Jewish relatives.

Communicating with other users on instant messaging apps such as Snapchat, WhatsApp and Telegram, Scott spoke of ‘blowing up generators’ to cause power outages, while a 3D printer – which can be used to create firearms – was discovered in his bedroom during a police raid.

However, a Crown prosecutor told the court that ‘there was never any intelligence suggesting that he was going to carry out any sort of attack’.

Scott, who was imprisoned last week for multiple sexual assaults against young girls, pleaded guilty to seven of 18 indictment charges, most of which related to Terrorism Act offences.

The court heard that one of the child witnesses in the sex offences case referred to Scott during police interviews as a ‘Heil Hitler type of person’ who had a number of weapons in his house including knives and guns.

He was arrested regarding the other matter in August 2022 and subsequent searches of his property uncovered a haul of indecent material.

Between February 2021 and July 2022, he had photos on his mobile phone containing instructions on how to make improvised incendiary and explosive devices, as well as videos with manufacturing tips for the highly flammable napalm and thermite.

Scott, originally from Norfolk in England, sent a racist message to an online ‘friend’ and sent further messages of an anti-Semitic and pro national socialist nature, the court was told.

During interviews with police, a ‘clearly upset’ Scott ‘spoke freely’ but repeatedly cried and told officers that he did not want to go back to Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

He used the picture messaging app Snapchat and also communicated via the encrypted Telegram platform, on which he had several group chats named after extreme right-wing leaders and ideologies such as ‘Britain First’, ‘Inside the Third Reich’, ‘Adolf Hitler’s Art Gallery’ and ‘The Reich Way’.

He said he had met people online and initially he was aligned with communism but became disillusioned with right-wing fanatics and ‘kept their messages for evidence’, claiming he was trying to infiltrate the groups and better understand the thinking of fellow members.

The fiscal depute said that during one police interview, Scott shouted that he would ‘rather die than go back to Polmont’.

Defence advocate Joseph Barr told the court that his client was ‘a very odd young man’ who was ‘socially inadequate’ and had ‘flip-flapped from communism to far-right extremism’.

Mr Barr added: “He is a fantasist in relation to all of this.

“A young man looking for online company and friends, someone who wouldn’t make offline friends very easily.

“He has Jewish relations and is not anti-Semitic. These are not views that he holds at all.

“There is no evidence that he was going to do any of these things.”

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan granted a Crown motion for forfeiture of several dozen rounds of ammunition, fired and unfired, blank firearms and a 3D printer recovered from Scott’s bedroom.

Mr Barr said that his efforts to secure a psychological assessment for his client had so far been in vain.

Sheriff McGeehan deferred sentence on Scott, whose address was not given in court, until July 5 for the preparation of background reports.

Greenock Telegraph

Axl Scott was sentenced to 18-months after he pleaded guilty to five contraventions of the Terrorism Act

A Scots man has been jailed after pleading guilty to terrorism charges.

Axl Scott, 22, was sentenced to 18 months in Greenock today, Friday, July 5. The ‘right-wing’ extremist pleaded guilty to five contraventions of the Terrorism Act 2000 and possession of a Taser device in May of this year.

In July 2021, cops were conducting inquiries at an address in Ardentinny, near Dunoon, when Scott’s terrorism-related offences were uncovered.

During a search of the property, officers found extremist material and the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit (OCCTU), where immediately called in to assist in the probe.

Several items, including documents on how to construct explosive devices, along with a video of a terrorist act were seized by cops. Digital devices containing Telegram conversations of extreme right-wing subjects were recovered along with the Taser.

Detective Superintendent Stephen Clark said: “A team of officers worked consistently to build a clear picture of Scott’s activities and crimes. The evidence uncovered clearly showed his extreme right-wing ideology and terrorist intentions. He now faces the consequences of the serious nature of his crimes.

“These types of crimes can cause concern in our local communities and while they are rare, they do remind us of the need to be vigilant. If you see or hear something suspicious or think that someone may be involved in terrorism activity, please act by reporting it to Police Scotland through 101. In an emergency dial 999. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”

Daily Record

Mason Maxwell (16/07/1989) of no fixed abode, who previously went by the name ‘Kane Hutchinson’, has been jailed for three years following an investigation by our Stockport Complex Safeguarding Team.

Originally from Gateshead, Hutchinson changed his name by deed poll, and moved to Greater Manchester where he continued his offending against children.

Following an extensive investigation by specialist officers in Stockport, Maxwell pleaded guilty to one count of taking an indecent video of a child, three counts of taking indecent images of a child, two counts of making an indecent image of a child, and three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child.

Yesterday (Wednesday Monday 24 June), he appeared at Minshull Crown Court where he was sentenced to three years in jail. He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and he is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

In 2021, following a piece of intelligence from the community, Stockport Complex Safeguarding Team launched an investigation into Maxwell and work began to identify if any young people had been affected by Maxwell’s alleged offending.

On Thursday 6 January 2022, officers executed a warrant at Maxwell’s address on Clowes Street in Salford and seized several crucial electrical devices.

A full digital examination of the devices revealed indecent images and video of children. He was then sharing these images and bragging about his deplorable illicit sexual endeavours to whoever would listen.

Detective Constable Ben Swapp from Stockport’s Complex Safeguarding Hub said: “Maxwell is a calculated and depraved individual who took extraordinary measures to change his name so that he could continue offending in a new location, preying on vulnerable young people.

“Throughout his interview, Maxwell denied all allegations and had endless excuses for his predatory behaviour. He showed no remorse for his actions, refusing to consider the effect his deplorable behaviour had on the young victims and their families.

“I would encourage anyone who has been affected by this case or believes they have been a victim of sexual abuse, please come forward and report this to us. We have specially trained officers and partners who will support you and ensure you get the help and care you need.”
GMP

James Malcolm, 24, messaged Shaunie Carrick, 18, and another teenage girl, and the Snapchat texts included a reference to the KKK.He also made comments to police about “white power”

A stalker with an ‘interest’ in the KKK who tried to keep tabs on a teenage girl to stop her seeing black people has avoided jail.

James Malcolm, 24, messaged Shaunie Carrick, 18, and another teenage girl between January 2022 and March 2024. The Snapchat texts included a reference to the white supremacist group.

Malcolm also patrolled an area in the north of Glasgow where Miss Carrick stayed in the hope that he would run into her. He later stated he did this to “protect her from mixing with black guys.”

Malcolm, of Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, described to police about “white power” and that there would be “another Rochdale up here.” Malcolm pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a single stalking charge.

Sheriff Joanna McDonald today tagged Malcolm for four months keeping him indoors between 7pm and 7am. He was also put under supervision for three years.

The sheriff said: “The social worker took the view that the way to deal with this case was to remit it to a higher court as this court does not have the powers available to it for an appropriate sentence.

“This was not an option to me as the Crown decided to prosecute it in this form despite your criminal record and nature of the offence. I have no powers to impose what would have been appropriate which would have been a significant custodial sentence.

“I must try and impose a sentence to reflect the gravity of the offence which protects the victim and the public from you.”

A five-year non-harassment order was also granted which prohibits Malcolm’s contact with Miss Carrick. The court previously heard that Malcolm initially met Miss Carrick with friends in Glasgow city centre.

The pair also met in later chance occasions. It was stated that there were no romantic or intimate relations between them.

Around March 2023, Malcolm messaged Miss Carrick on social media chat app Snapchat.

Prosecutor Iain Mathieson said: “He sent screenshots pertaining to the KKK and spoke about the five elements. Miss Carrick had no idea what these messages were about.

“She suspected that he wanted to engage in a romantic relationship with her.”

Miss Carrick took screenshots of the messages and blocked Malcolm on social media. Malcolm then contacted another girl who knew Miss Carrick and asked to see her.

He also shouted at the girl and claimed that she was preventing him from seeing Miss Carrick. The girl also took screenshots of messages sent to her by Malcolm.

Malcolm then went to the area in the north of Glasgow where he knew Miss Carrick resided. He came to the attention of police as he had been the victim of an assault.

Malcom was taken to hospital when inquiries were carried out about what happened. He told officers that he was in the area looking for Miss Carrick stating that he was “chasing lassies”.

Mr Mathieson added: “He said he needed to save her from black guys she has been out with. He said that it is another Rochdale up here and that he hoped to bump into Miss Carrick.

“He described white power and that he wanted to protect her from mixing with black guys.”

Malcolm also made racial slurs such as “n*****” and “p***”. Contact was made with Miss Carrick meantime who handed over the screenshots to officers.

Martin Hughes, defending, told the court that his client “has an unhealthy interest in the organisation mentioned in the narrative”.

Glasgow Live

Scott Hughes had been on a three-day drinking binge when he made ‘abhorrent’ threats while in Whitley Bay

A drunk man rang police saying he was a racist and was going to set fire to a mosque and “stab a Muslim in the neck”.

When Scott Hughes contacted Northumbria Police reporting making the stab threat, officers went to a pub in Whitley Bay where they believed him to be. He wasn’t there but police were told a man had been sitting alone in the beer garden in a heavily intoxicated state rambling on the phone.

An officer called the number Hughes had used to contact them and spoke to him. During the call he said “I’m a racist” before saying he was going to “go mental at the metro station”.

He then said “I’m going to go to the f****** west end and burn them out.” Asked who he meant, he said “Muslims” and used a racist term. Asked why, he said: “It’s what I believe in. I’m f****** right wing. I will burn them before they burn us”.

He went on to say the police needed to catch him “before I torch a mosque or something”. The officer made a further 13 calls to him and he would answer briefly before hanging up. He then sent a text to the officer saying “tick tock boom”

Hughes, 40, of no fixed address, was arrested the following day and said he was intoxicated at the time. He pleaded guilty to sending a communication threatening death or serious harm and sending by a public network offensive, indecent or menacing messages.

Recorder Richard Herrmann said it was a hate crime but added: “You profess not to genuinely hold the abhorrent views and intentions your aired in the phone calls. Others say the same about you and you seem to have satisfied the probation officer about that and there’s no other evidence of it.

“You have considerable difficulties and undoubtedly need help.” He was sentenced to four months suspended for 18 months with an alcohol treatment requirement and a mental health treatment requirement, both for nine months.

Mark Harrison, defending, said: “There’s nothing I can say that goes anywhere close to explaining the absolutely disgusting language used by the defendant or the abhorrent views espoused by the defendant, in drink. He has a long-standing history of struggling with the misuse of alcohol and there had been three days of near constant alcohol misuse.

“He had been sat at the pub in floods of tears from time to time. He has almost no recollection about the repugnant language and sentiments expressed during those phone calls.

“The only people the threats were made to were the emergency services. This was a cry for help.”

The Chronicle

Mason Reynolds, 19, from Brighton, had ‘an entrenched and violent neo-Nazi mindset’, a court was told.

A teenage neo-Nazi has been jailed for eight years for creating a detailed plan to carry out a suicide bomb attack on a synagogue because he wanted “to make Jews afraid again”.

Mason Reynolds, 19, from Brighton, was convicted at trial of possession of an article connected with the preparation of an act of terrorism against the synagogue in Hove, East Sussex.

He had also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, as well as five offences of sharing terrorist publications dating back to when he was aged 16.

The defendant had shared right-wing videos and possessed bomb instruction manuals, Winchester Crown Court heard.

The court was told that Reynolds had annotated a Google street map and satellite image of the synagogue detailing “entry points and points to attack”.

Naomi Parsons, prosecuting, said: “Whilst preparation is described as limited, it is not absent, for Mr Reynolds had a neo-Nazi mindset and he had prepared an extensive library of manuals, explosives manuals, gun-making manuals.”

She added: “There was the potential to endanger many lives, he included references to the days when the the synagogue would be busiest, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover.”

Ms Parsons continued: “He had an entrenched and violent neo-Nazi mindset and had expressed an intention to commit terrorist acts – I wanna strap multiple pipe bombs to my chest and blow myself up in a synagogue.

“He knew that those he communicated with shared that mindset.”

Ms Parsons said that Reynolds used the Telegram social media site to encourage others with his “propaganda channel to promote the neo-Nazi agenda” and he posted that he wanted to “make Jews afraid again”.

He also possessed recorded live-streamed videos of mass-murder terrorist attacks including those produced by Brenton Tarrant in Christchurch, New Zealand; and Anders Breivik in Norway, the court heard.

Ms Parsons said: “They are clips from live-streamed attacks and that is the point of them, that’s what makes them so dangerous, they are designed to aid copy-cat attacks.”

He also posted a promotional video for the proscribed, white supremacist, terrorist organisation, Atomwaffen Division, showing a man in a skull mask and combat gear shooting targets.

Reynolds showed no emotion as he was given an extended sentence made up of eight years in custody with a five-year period on licence.

The judge, Mrs Justice May, told him that she considered him as “dangerous” and added: “You intended to encourage terrorism, this was propaganda pure and simple.”

Of the terrorist documents kept by Reynolds, she added: “It is a startlingly extensive and concerning collection kept secret from your family and friends but showing how entrenched your interest in far right ideology had become.”

Amy Packham, defending, said that Reynold’s interest in the far right developed during the Covid-19 lockdown and added: “He would never have taken this action into real life, this was all online, behind the barrier of the internet, that is his stated evidence and the view of his family that there is no risk.”

A Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) spokesman said that Reynolds had “praised attacks by far-right terrorists”.

He added: “Reynolds created a note detailing a plan to attack a synagogue in Hove.

“Following a police search of his home, various devices were found which had been used to store or share material, including an iPhone and USB drives.

“He was also found to be the administrator of a Telegram channel which shared far right extremist, anti-Semitic and racist views, as well as manuals on bomb building and how to 3D print firearms.”

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Counter Terrorism and Special Crime Division, said: “Mason Reynolds sought to spread hate and encourage acts of terrorism.

“He not only held neo-Nazi beliefs but wanted to act on them to cause pain and suffering, which fortunately has been prevented and the public protected due to the work of the policing and prosecution team.”
Evening Standard

Mason Reynolds annotated a map and noted the synagogue’s busiest days, the court heard

A teenager with neo-Nazi views who drew up a plan to carry out a suicide bomb attack on a synagogue in Hove has been jailed.

Mason Reynolds, 19, from Brighton, was previously convicted of having an article connected with the preparation of an act of terrorism and had admitted 10 offences relating to terrorist publications and material.

At Winchester Crown Court, Mrs Justice May told him she considered him “dangerous”, adding documents he kept showed “how entrenched your interest in far-right ideology had become”.

Reynolds was jailed for eight years, with five on extended licence.

‘Toxic path’

The judge said: “You intended to encourage terrorism. This was propaganda pure and simple.”

Prosecuting, Naomi Parsons said Reynolds had annotated a Google street map and satellite image of the synagogue with “entry points and points to attack”.

She said Reynolds had an extensive library of manuals, including explosives manuals and gun-making manuals.

“There was the potential to endanger many lives. He included references to the days when the synagogue would be busiest, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover,” she said.

The court heard the teenager, from Moulsecoomb Way, possessed live-streamed videos of terrorist attacks including those by Brenton Tarrant in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Anders Breivik in Norway.

Reynolds promoted the neo-Nazi agenda on social media, wrote that he wanted to “make Jews afraid again”, and posted a promotional video for a proscribed organisation, the court was told.

Amy Packham, mitigating, said his interest in the far right developed during Covid lockdown. She said: “He would never have taken this action into real life, this was all online, behind the barrier of the internet.”

After the hearing, Det Ch Supt Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: “This is another case involving a young person following a toxic extreme right-wing terrorist and anti-semitic path.

“The fact Reynolds had such a detailed plan to attack a synagogue is really concerning. However, as a result of our investigation, Reynolds was prevented from progressing the plan into action.”

BBC News

A Leicestershire man, who described a mass killer as a ‘hero’ and shared harrowing footage of a terrorist attack, has been jailed for encouraging terrorism.

Edward Griffiths (pictured) sent videos to people of the terrorist attack – which was committed at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019 and resulted in the killing of 51 people – stating he would “love” to do what the perpetrator of the attacks did. Griffiths also stated that he would “like” to go on a killing spree and talked about different people he would like to kill.

In a social media post, the 44-year-old also described the perpetrator of the Christchurch attacks as a “hero”.

The police and prosecution’s case did not allege that Griffiths was planning any specific attack but that he had an extreme mindset and was reckless about whether his actions would encourage others to commit terrorist acts.

The offences by Griffiths were committed between November 2021 and June 2022. Following an investigation, officers from Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands (CTPEM) executed a warrant in June 2022, which saw Griffiths, of Hermitage Road in Whitwick, Coalville, arrested at his home.

Griffiths admitted being the user of various social media profiles but mostly answered ‘no comment’ in interview. In a later interview he said sending the video around was wrong, that he had shared it with a few close friends and that he had been going through a bad time in his life during the Covid pandemic.

Griffiths was charged in May last year and, following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court last month, he was found guilty of one count of encouragement of terrorism and of two counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication.

Today (Friday 7 June 2024) he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Glynn Jehu, from CTPEM, said: “Fifty one people lost their lives in the Christchurch attacks. Spreading messages of extreme hate and violence in the way that Griffiths did is dangerous, reckless and could easily have encouraged others to commit an act of terrorism.

“It was therefore important that we stopped this by acting on information received, investigating the communications fully and bringing Griffiths before the courts.

“Please remember that information you provide to us can help to stop acts of terrorism or the encouragement of acts of terrorism. If you have any information about activity or behaviour that doesn’t feel right, please report it so that action can be taken. You can find more information on how you can help at What You Can Do | Counter Terrorism Policing

CT Police

The 15-year-old’ had notebooks filled with racist thoughts and had online chats with white supremacist groups

A teenager who filled notebooks with “abhorrent in the extreme” racist thoughts, had online chats with white supremacist groups and filmed himself throwing a petrol bomb will be sentenced by a crown court judge.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared for sentencing at Leeds Youth Court on Friday by senior district judge Paul Goldspring, who decided he did not have a wide enough range of powers to deal with him.

Judge Goldspring heard how teachers at the boy’s school became so concerned after he scrawled on his mock GCSE physics paper, that they eventually called counter-terror police. When officers arrived at his home in December 2023, his mother told them: “It’s about my son, isn’t it?” and she already had a range of items ready for them to inspect on the dining table of their house in Stockton.

Prosecutor Ashleigh Metcalfe told the judge about drawings found in the house, relating to a range of far-right ideologies, including one featuring a gas mask, accompanied by “6MWE”. Ms Metcalfe said this is a reference to the holocaust and means “six million not enough”.

There were also references to the proscribed organisation, the Atomwaffen Division and a Star of David surrounded by the words “lies”. The prosecutor said one red notebook was full of material that showed an “extreme far-right-wing ideology”.

Ms Metcalfe said the police also discovered 78 chats the boy had engaged with on the Telegram platform, which included the sharing of videos of well-known terror atrocities around the world. In one, the defendant had added a soundtrack to Brenton Tarrant’s live stream video of his murders in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, in New Zealand.

In another, he says: “I’ve been trying to steal Korans from my school to burn”.

The court heard how the police found a video of the teenager wearing a skull mask and throwing a petrol bomb to the floor. Ms Metcalfe said an analysis of the boy’s devices uncovered documents including The Terrorist’s Handbook and The Improvised Munitions Handbook, which included instructions for making weapons and explosives.

The boy’s solicitor Julian Gaskin said his client had now been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. He said the defendant was extremely isolated at school and said he latched on to a community at a time of extreme vulnerability.

Mr Gaskin said: “He has found something that is wholly inappropriate, but found some sense of belonging, how unpalatable as that is.” The solicitor added: “He doesn’t hold the views, or espouse them now,” and explained how he comes from a “loving family”.

The boy burst into tears as he explained to Mr Goldspring some of the problems he has had at school. The judge said he understood these problems but was struggling to see the link to extreme-right wing ideology.

Asked if he wanted to explain this, the boy shook his head, visibly too upset to speak.

Mr Goldspring said he had dealt with a lot of young people who are essentially “keyboard warriors” but he said the defendant’s actions “go far further than that, including videoing himself throwing a Molotov cocktail”. He said: “What you said and did was abhorrent in the extreme.”

Mr Goldspring explained that a crown judge needed to deal with the case due to their wider range of sentencing powers.

The judge told the defendant that, although these included greater powers in relation to how long he could be placed in custody, that was not the inevitable outcome of the case. He said the crown court also had greater powers in relation to non-custodial sentences.

The boy has admitted five counts of collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, three counts of disseminating terrorist publications, one offence of criminal damage and one of racially aggravated criminal damage.

He was given conditional bail and will appear at Leeds Crown Court at a date to be fixed.

Gazette Live

A 31 year old man from Barnsley has today (Thursday, June 6) been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment and one year on licence for terrorism and indecent images offences.

He will also be subject to a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Ryan JACKSON (11/02/1993) of Wath Road, Brampton, was arrested in July 2021 as part of an intelligence led investigation into an online right-wing extremist chat group. Members of the Telegram group from across the UK came together to exchange racist views, propaganda, and terror manuals, while advocating the use of violence to further their cause. Linked investigations have led to six other members of the Telegram chat being convicted and sentenced to over 40 years imprisonment for terrorism and firearms offences.

A search was conducted at Jackson’s home following his arrest, resulting in 25 digital exhibits being seized and subject to detailed examination. He was found to have collected terrorist publications and had shared instructional terrorist material in the Telegram group.

While expert investigators were examining the devices, it was also found that Jackson had amassed over 900 indecent images of children, and over 200 extreme pornographic images involving animals.

Jackson was charged in November 2022, and pleaded guilty to the following offences at hearings in September 2023 and March 2024:

Five offences of collect/make a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58, Terrorism Act 2000

One offence of dissemination of a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2, Terrorism Act 2006

Three offences of make indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of children, contrary to Section 1, Protection of Children Act 1978

One offence of possession of prohibited images of children, contrary to Section 62, Coroners and Justice Act 2009

One offence of possession of extreme pornographic images, contrary to Section 63, Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said:

“I am grateful to the officers in this case that have conducted a thorough investigation and ensured that Jackson has been brought to justice for the number of crimes that he has committed.

“This case demonstrates the seriousness of engaging in extremist behaviour online and the real world consequences of doing so.

“Anyone found to be involved in such activity can expect to be identified and put before the courts.

“I would encourage anyone who is aware of extreme material online, to report it to police so we can take appropriate action.”

CT Police